The pattern of CD95/Fas expression on T lymphocytes in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis - preliminary results

Recent data indicate that the apoptotic process, mediated by the CD95/Fas cell surface receptor, is impaired in activated lymphocytes of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of CD95/Fas on peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in the disease relapse and in healthy individuals. The study included 8 patients and 10 healthy controls. Quantitative assessment of peripheral blood T lymphocytes and expression of CD95/Fas on T lymphocyte subpopulations were done by flow cytometry-immunophenotyping. The proportion of CD8+ and CD8+CD95+ T lymphocytes was significantly higher in patients in the relapse of the disease as compared to healthy controls. The proportion of CD4+ T lymphocytes did not show any significant difference between patients in the disease relapse and healthy controls. However, the proportion of CD4+CD95+ T lymphocytes was lower inpatients in the disease relapse as compared to healthy controls, but this difference was of borderline significance. These preliminary results show different expression of CD95/Fas on peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes inpatients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, implicating possible impairment in the process of apoptosis. Since there are contradictory literature data on this issue, additional studies are needed to elucidate the pattern of CD95/Fas expression and related apoptotic process of peripheral blood T lymphocytes in patients with multiple sclerosis.